Antifungal susceptibility of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and therapy in a murine model of disseminated infection

Background

The incidence of systemic infections by Saccharomyces cerevisiae has increased in recent years, especially among immunocompromised patients. Amphotericin B, voriconazole or echinocandins have been used with favorable outcome against systemic infections by this fungus. However, clinical experience is limited and no in vivo studies have been conducted.

Aerobactin production and dulcitol fermentation in clonal groups of Escherichia coli O1: K1 strains from urinary tract infections

Abstract 70 urinary Escherichia coli O1:K1 strains were characterized for O1 antigen factors, mannose-resistant hemagglutination of human erythrocytes, flagellar and fimbrial antigens, dulcitol fermentation and aerobactin production. On the basis of their O1 and H antigens the strains could be assigned to 6 distinct groups. The most prevalent groups were: O1abcd: H⁻ :F9 (33 strains; pattern II), O1abc: H⁻ :F11 (9 strains; pattern IV), and O1abc: H7: F11 (19 strains; pattern V). Strains with patterns IV and V, both expressing fimbrial antigen F11, fermented dulcitol and produced aerobactin, whereas strains with pattern II were negative for both characteristics.     

Evaluation of biofilm production and prevalence of the icaD gene in methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from patients with nosocomial infections and carriers

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most important etiological agents responsible for healthcare-associated infections and is capable of producing many virulence factors including biofilm. The aim of the present study was to analyze the correlation between the presence of the icaD and icaA genes and the ability to produce biofilm in vitro in 302 methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and 268 methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) strains isolated in the Provincial Hospital in Gdansk. Presence of the icaD and icaA genes was detected by PCR and the ability to produce biofilm in vitro was measured both spectrophotometrically and via Congo Red Agar plate culture methods. We found that 91% of MRSA strains harbored the icaD gene. Moreover, all icaD-negative strains were icaA-positive. Of MRSA and MSSA strains, 47% and 69%, respectively, produced biofilm in vitro. The level of consistency between the two applied phenotypic methods was 96%. Additionally, we found that strains with the same biofilm status may be present in asymptomatic carriers and cause infections.